The Crescent College Comprehensive Past Pupils’ Union annual dinner was held at the Strand Hotel on Saturday 11 November 2023. It was hosted by Union President, Jeannie O’Malley. There was an attendance of just over two hundred, one of the largest seen at our annual dinner. Among those present were past pupils who had travelled from the USA, the Philippines, Singapore, Germany, France and Britain.
The President’s guests were Helen O’Donnell, Chair of the CCC Board of Management, Diarmuid Mullins, School Principal, George Heslin, recipient of the roll of honour and after dinner speaker, Pat Rickard, President of Old Crescent RFC, Peter O’Meara, President of Clongowes Past Pupils’ Union and Justice Kevin O’Higgins.
The President, Jeannie O’Malley, welcomed the guests and outlined the events organised by the Union during the year. She announced the upcoming launch of CUSP (Crescent Union Solidarity Programme) which will offer advice and support to past pupils experiencing difficulties in their careers or personal lives. She indicated that the Union is putting together a panel of past pupils with legal, financial, employment, redundancy, counselling and other expertise to assist in providing such support. She congratulated George Heslin as the 2023 entrant to the Roll of Honour.
The guest speaker, George Heslin of the Class of 1987, is currently Executive Director of the New York Irish Centre. Following a career as an actor and director in Ireland, Britain and the USA he became founding and artistic director of the Origin Theatre in New York. He spoke of having wanted to be an actor since the age of five, and said his education, and introduction to drama and theatre, at CCC contributed hugely to his subsequent career.
Two groups – the Leaving Certificate classes of 1963 and 1973 – held their reunions at the dinner.
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